Typewriting machine



Sept. 14 1926.

J. WALDHEIM TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Ndv. 1a, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,1. WALDHEIM TYPEWRITING MACKINE Filed Nov. 1?, 1924 2 Sheets-Shea: 2

Sept. 14

Inventor:

Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

unirsu Sitia'r g,

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WAL'DHEIM, or ELTZABETI'I, NEW JERSEY, nssrsnon T0 UNDERWOGlj TYrE- WRITER CGMPANY, OF NEW YORK, n. r, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEYVBITIIIG MACHINE.

Application filed November 18, 1924. Serial No. 750,542

his invention relates to sound-deadening casings for typewriting machines, and more particularly to that class of sound-- Subduing devices which can be applied directly to the typewriting machine with a minimum of alteration thereof, or no alteration at all,

In certain classes, of sound-proof casings difliculty has been experienced in securing access to the typewriter-carriage, as ordinarily constructed, to control its movements and to manipulate the paper thereon.

It is an "object of this invention to overcome these diliiculties and to provide such a "casing as will permit ready access to the carri e and its controllin apparatus and conveinent operation thereof, using ordinary handles or iingerpieces in the carriage-controlling mechanism.

The sound-subduing casing of this invention, in addition to a lower box-like member, or pack, which encloses the typewriter framework, is provided with a cover or hood, which, in combination with outwardly-extended lateral portions of the horn like member, encloses the carriage, controlling devices and the upper portion of the typ ewriting machine in a chamber. The hood or cover is closed at the re r, top and ends, but is open at the front so that a sufiicient aperture is there provided through which the hand ot the operator may be thrust and manipulate the usual carriage controlling devices to regulate the movement of the carriage and toa certain extent effect an adjustment of the paper on the carriage or its platen. According to one feature of the invention, this hood or cover is pivotal] y mounted upon the box-like member Qll' PFtClC; yet the operations necessary for the normal actuation and control of the carriage and a limited manipulation of the paper may be performed while the cover is in closed position and the carriage encased therein, and are accomplished entirely by acto the ca,.-iage and its controlling de vices through the front opening in the cover, and do not require a lifting or displacement of the cover.

Sounds which may escape through the front opening of the cover will be of such limited volume that they will not be objectionable to the operator; and, because the cover is closed at the top and ends, sounds will not escape in such a direction as to disturb operators or others located at the back or side of the machine. Moreover, the hood and the carriage-enclosing chamber as well as the lower member or pack are lined throughout with felt and this provides'such a sound-absorbing surface that the transmission and reflection of sound through this opening is reduced to a minimum. The chamber moreover forms an air-pocket tending to absorb sound.

Although a limited adjustment of the paper on the platen and carriage may be made through the frontal opening in the hood, it is necessary when a new sheet of paper is to be inserted to swing the cover rearwardly to fully expose the platen for this operation. This is possible because the hood or carriage-covering portion is preferably hinged to the lower portion of the pack or box-like member, and may therefore be swung rearwardly for this purpose.

This sound-subduing device has a high degree of e'lliciency, is of simple construction and is provided at a minimum of cost. It is designed to be applied for use with typewriting machines of usual construction, having usual levers and finger-pieces for controlling the carriage, and requires the provision of no extraordinary carriagecontrolling apparatus.v its sound-deadening elhciency is maintained, while, at the same time, access to the carriage-controlling mechanism necessary for normal operation is provided for by the frontal opening in the chamber enclosingthese parts, which opening is such that it will permit only a minimum of sound to escape therefrom, and requires no slotsealing means to be provided in connection therewith.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

lBi 'ure 1 is a rats aective view )artl r in cross section, showing in dotted lines the position of the typewriter-Carriage near one end of its letter-feed movement.

The Underwood standard typewrlting machine comprises a main frame supported on a base by feet 11 and has a forward extension 12 carrying banks of keys 13 operating type-bars 14 mounting type 15 to strlke against a platen 16, journaled in a platen-frame 17. The. platen-frame forms part of a carriage 18 mounted for letter-feed movement upon front rail 19 and a rear rail 20 carried on the main frame. The carriage may be provided with various forwardly-extending operating devices, such as a line-spacing lever 21 and other levers actuating and controlling the operation of the carriage and platen.

It is for the deadening of the sounds arising from the operation of a typewriting machine of this general character, and having platen and carriage-controlling mechanisms extending and disposed. substantially as indicated hereinbefore, that this invention is provided. The device comprises a lower member 22, which is of box-like construction, and formed somewhat in the shape of a shoe with a. forwardly-projecting portion. This member has a closed bottom 23, a closed back 24, closed opposite sides 25 and 26, and is open at the top and front to receive and to enclose the typewriting machine. When, as is common in the usual Underwood standard typewriting machine, there is provided at the rear a tabulating mechanism 27, the back of the lower member 22 is formed, as is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, with an offset or indented portion or recess 28 to receive and encase a portion of this mechanism. The floor 23 of the lower member is provided with a cross-bar 29, whicn has slots 30 for receiving and guiding tabulator keys (not shown), but which are to actuate the tabulating mechanism 27, shown in Figure 2, at the rear of the machine. The lower member 22 of the casing is heavily lined with felt or other suitable sound-deadening material, and the cross-bar 29 is of 'milar material. This bar 29 serves the purpose of closing the front of the space between the base of the typewriter-frame and the bottom 23 of the casing. This prevents the exit of sound along the casing l'loorin Extending outwardly from the opposite sides 25 and 26 of the lower member 22 are shelf-like portions 36 and 37. These are bent at their forward edges, so as to form flanges 38 and 39 extending upwardly on each side of the lower member 22, and terminating at a similar height, slightly above. the top edge of the lower member of the casing. Spanning the frontal opening in the lower member 22 is a front plate 40, having angularly-l ent arms 41, 42 extending rearwardly toward the casing,

and adjacent the opposite ends of the flanges 38 and 39. The flange 38, arm 41, front plate Q, the other arm 42 and the flange 39 form a top marginal. edge and front closure for the portions of the casing that extend on either side of the shoe-like lower member, and of that open front portion which is not occupied and closed by the typewriter keyboard and the operating apparatus. These extensions 36 and 37 continue rearwardly and terminate on a line coincident with the back face of the casing. They are heavily lined with felt or suitable sound-deadening material and form flooring or bottom underlying the typewritercarriage, when, in the course of its movement, it extends at either side of the lower box-like portion of the casing.

In combination with the lower member there is an upper member 45, by means of which the upper portion of the machine, not encased by the lower member, is siilbstantially completely housed. This upper member 45 consists of a rear downwardly-extending portion 46, which at the opposite ends of its lower edge is provided with enlargements for bearings 47 and 48, by means of which it is pivotally mounted on pins 49 and 50, carried near the base of the lower member of the casing. The upper member 45) is provided with an upper forwardlyextending hood-like. portion having closed ends 51 and 52.

The rear portion 46 of the upper member 45 extends from its bearings 47 and 43, behind and opposite the back wall of 24 of the lower member of the casing, and is spaced from this wall by an air chamber 53, which extends the width of the back wall 24, and serves as a sound-deadening barrier between these portions. This member 45 continues upwardly and extends for wardly to the front face of the lower member, and in line with the upwardly-extending portions 38 and 39 of the shelf members 36 and 37. This forms a chamber over the shelves 36 and 37 and over the. box-like portion of the lower member in which the main frame of the typewriter is enclosed. This chamber is closed at its top and so encloses the t-ypcwriter-carriage that the carriage is permitted to have its normal travel in letterfeed direction, while entirely housed within the chamber. The hood member forming this chamber has in its front face a longitudinal opening 54. This opening extends substantially the entire length of the hood or chamber containing the typewriter-carriage, and its lower margin is determined by the top edges of the elements 38, 39 and 40. This is termed a hand-opening and is designed to be only large enough to enable an operator to properly manually manipulate such levers and controlling mechanisms as are mounted on, travel with and control the carriage and platen and are enclosed within this chamber. Its size is limited to present the least possible opening for the escape of sound. It is located in the front face of the hood or chamber to provide a normal and convenient place for access to the machine during operation. The lower portion of the upper member extends forwardly beyond its pivot-pins 49 and 50, and has an arin fixed to it by bolts 56 or any other suitable fastening means. This arm 55 is provided near its outer end with a stop member or detent- 57 projecting toward the adjacent face of the lower member. This face has indentations or depressions 58 and 59, spaced apart a determined distance, with which the stop or detent 57 makes engagement and registers, when the hood-like member is in either its closed or fully open position, as indicated in full and dotted lines, respectively, in Figure 2. As shown, the stop registers with the indentation 59, when the hood is in closed position, and registers in the indentation 58, when the hood is displaced rearwardly to its open position, as shown in dotted lines. The coaction of the stop and indentations aids in prep erly determining the swinging displacement of the hood. When closed the hood is thereby locked against accidental displacement.

The outer surface of the back of the lower member of the casing is faced with a comparatively thick padding 60 preferably of felt, or other sound-deadening and dilfracting material. This is provided in order to break up the sound waves and destroy sound that might tend to escape through the space between the back of the lower member and the rear of the upper member.

The usual Underwood standard typewriter has a front formation, which, when the machine is installed in the casing, would leave a substantially central arcuate-shaped front opening through which sound would gain an exit. To close this opening the angularly-formed front plate 40, heretofore referred to, is utilized. Apertures 61 and 62 are provided near the opposite ends of this plate, so that any suitable fastening means, such as bolts (33, may pass therethrough and engage the typewriter frame. The typewriter will tliereby be held in proper operating position within the lower member of the casing and the plate 40 will be retained in proper position to close the frontal arcuate opening.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that the casing; is of such construction that when the typewriter is operatively installed therein there are but two outlets for sound. One is the direct opening 54 provided in the front face of the hood-like member, and the other is the openingbl between the hoodlike member and the back of the lower member of the casing. It will be seen from Figure 2 that the chamber 53 formed by the spaced relation of the lower portion of the upper member and the rear of the lower member provides a space which is conveniently utilized to receive the work-sheet and permit its travel during typing.

In order to control the typewriter-ribbon-winding mechanism 64 without opening the casin an opening 65 is made in the side wall 26 of the lower member 22, and a short shaft b6, rotatably connected with and actuating this mechanism, is extended therethrough. This shaft isprovided with a hand-wheel 67 at its outer end by which the shaft may be manually operated; By this means the ribbon-winding mechanism may be controlled and actuated from the outside of the casing.

The method of applying my device for use is as follows: The hood of the casing is displaced, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and the plate 40 is removed from the opening in the lower member 2. A. typewriting machine is inserted into the lower member; the rear of the machine will abut against the rear of the casing, and if the machine is provided with a tabulator mecl'ianism, that will be seated in the recess 28, while the opposite sides 25 and 26 of the casing will grip the typewriter framework and hold the typewriting machine in position. The feet 11, supporting the typewriter, rest upon the felt bottom padding of the casing; while the felt-crossbar 29 engages the typewriter-frame base and makes a barrier againstv the passage of sound out from the casing bottom. The front plate i0 is substituted for the usual front plate; and the keyboard of the typewriting machine projects through the front opening in the lower portion of the casing accessible to the operator.

l Vhile the hood member is in displaced-position, a worksheet may be inserted for typing. This hood may then be swung forwardly to closed position and will then entirely roof over and enclose the upper portion of the typewriting machine, including the carriage and platen and their controlling and actuating levers. These levers are then accessible through the opening in the front of the casing, and the platen and carriage may be controlled by the actuation of the devices by the hand of the operator through this opening, without displacement of the hood or cover.

The writingmay be visible to the operator without rearward displacement of the hood, but is invisible to an observer above or at the sides of the machine. After typing, the work-sheet may be withdrawn from the platen; to do which the hood must again be rearwardly displaced.

From the foregoing, it will therefore be seen, that a sound-deadening casing; has

been produced which effects a substantially complete enclosure of thetypewriting machine which is provided with an inner surface padding of sound-deadening material of high efliciency, and which provides an opening for the manipulation of the platen and carriage of a typewriting machine having carriage-controlling levers of the usual design, which opening is of such size and so placed as to afford convenient access for that purpose, and to restrict the passage of sound therefrom to the minimum.

In my patent No. 1,499,709, dated July 1, 1924, there-is shown a sound-deadening device in the form of a cabinet which completely encloses the typewriting machine, said cabinet being provided with an opening in the front from which the keyboard extension of the machine protrudes. Said cabinet is also provided with aslot extending lengthwise thereof, and bordered with slotsealing cushions, through which certain handles or finger-pieces extend from the carriage of the machine, so that the carriage may be operated from the exterior of the easing. Thus there is provided in said patent a highly efi'icient sound-deadening device which may be used in a small room or office without annoyance to other workers in the same room. It is usual with this device to replace the usual linger-pieces of the typewriting machine by special ones, which are con structed to extend through the slot in said cabinet to the exterior thereof.

The present invention provides a sounddeadening device which may be used to good advantage in many places where the highest possible degree of noise-eliminating etlicieney is not necessary, as, for example, in large rooms or ofiices where the machine may be further removed from other workers. It will be understood that the cost of manufacture of the present device is low, since there is usually no necessity for special finger-pieces on the carriage of the machine, and further, there is no need of slot-sealing devices.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvenrents may be used without others.

Eaving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A combined frameworlepack and carriage-hood for a standard typewriting machine ha ing a movable carriage, including a pack having side and rear felt-lined walls snugly fitted agai t the sides and the back of the machine-f1 mework, the sides of the pack being extended or continued outwardly at the tops thereof to form the bottoms of oiitwardly-extending pockets for accommodating the travel of the carriage at either side, a hinged cover over the carriage, said cover extending foiwvardly beyond the ends of the usual standard carriage-handles and laterally beyond the sides of the pack, and

having end walls closing the ends of said pockets, and a front plate fast to the machine-framework, the top of the cover being continued downwardly but leaving a narrow hand-opening extending the width of the cover through which opening the hand of the operative may be thrust to reach the carriage-handles.

2. A sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine, con'iprising a hollow lower member having a bottom, end and back gripping the framework of the typewriting machine and having lateral extensions at its opposite ends, and an upper member having a hooded top with closed ends and a down wardly-extending rear portion rockably displaeeably related to said lower member, both members being interiorly padded with sounddeadening material, said machine being operably enclosed within said members, except for a frontal hand-opening between said members, disposed for access to manually operate only the carriage of said machine without displacement of either member.

3. A sound-deadening casing for a type writing machine, comprising a shoe-like lower member having a bottom, sides and back and provided with frontal flanged lateral extensions, and an upper member having an extended rear portion terminating in an upper forwardly-projected hood closed at its opposite ends, both members being interiorly padded with sound-deadening material, said hood being rockably displaceably mounted on said lower member, and in combination therewith operably enclosing said machine, except for a longitudinal handopening in the front of said hood, disposed for access to manually operate only the carriage of said machine.

4. A sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine, comprising a shoe-like lower member having an open front and a closed bottom, sides and back and upper frontal flanged lateral wtcnsions, a nd an up per member having do n ar ;y-extendcd rear portion, and an upper forwardly-projected hood closed at its opposite ends and top, and a plate-member spanning the frontal ogiening of said lower meniliier, said upper, lower and plate members being teriorly padded with sound-deadeningmaterial, said upper member being rockably displaceably mounted on said lower member, and in combination therewith operably enclosing said machine, except for a longitudinal hand-opening in the front of said hood, disposed for access to manually operate only the carriage of said machine.

5. A sounddea ;lening casing for type writing machine, comprising a shoe-like lower member having an 0 en front and a closed bottom, sides and back, and upper frontal flanged lateral extensions and having a plate-member spanning the frontal lg-states opening in said shoe-like member, and an upper member having a downwardly-extend ed rear portion, and an upper forwardlyprojected hood closed at its opposite ends and top, said upper, lower and plate members being interiorly padded with sound deadening material, said upper hood membcr b'eing rockably displaceably mounted on said lower member, and in combination therewith operably enclosing said machine, except for a longitudinal frontal hand-open ing in said hood, disposed for access to manually operate only the carriage of said machine, said hood and lateral era-tensions forming a pocket or chamber substantially enclosing the typewriter-carriage, operably.

6. A sound-deadening casing for a typewritingp; machine, comprising a shoe-li e lower member having a closed bottom, sides and back, and upper frontal flanged lateral extensions, and an upper member having an extended rear portion terminating in an upper torwardly-projected hood closed at its opposite ends, said members being interiorly padded with sound-deadening material, said hood-memi'ier being pivotally mounted on said lower member and having means to limit its pivotal displacement, and in combination with the lower member :torming a chamber or pocket operably enclosing the carriage of the machine, except for a longitudinal hand-mooning in the front of said hood, disposed for access to manually operate only the typewriter-carriage and carriageoperating and controlling elements.

7 A sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine, comprising a lower member having a closed bottom, sides and back, and an open front and frontal flanged lat eral extensions, and having an angularly formed plate bridging the opening between the lateral extensions, and an upper member rock-ably displaceably mounted upon said lower member and having a downwardly-e2:- tending rear portion pivotally engaging said lower member, and an upper forwardly-extending hood portion closed at its top and opposite ends, forming with said lateral ,2;- tensions a substantially closed pocket or chamber for the carriage of the typewriting machine, said lower, upper and bridging members being interiorly padded with sound-deadening material and together operably enclosing said typewriting machine, except for a frontal hand-opening in said pocket or chamber, disposed for access to manually operate only the typewritercarriage and carriage-operating and control.- ling means without relative displacement of the upper or lower members.

8. A sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine. comprising a hollow, feltlinel shoe-like lower member having a frontal opening and closed sides, bottom and back and upper frontal flanged lateral e1;-

tensions, and an angularly formed felt lined plate bridging the frontal opening of said shoe-like lower member between the opposite ends of said lateral ciitensions, and an upper felt-lined ineniiber having a down wardly-extending rear portion and an up per l'oiwardly-projecting hood-like portion having closed ends and which, in conibina tion with the lateral eiitensions of like member, forms a closed pocket, operably housing the typewriter-carriage, except for a longitudinal hand-opening in said pocket disposed for access to manually operate only the typewriter-carriage and carriage controlling and operating mechanism without relative displacement of the the shoe- I hook-like member from the shoe-like membe'r.

9. A sound-deadening pack for a standard typewriting inachine, said pack including a lower member and an upper member displaceably related thereto, both members being interiorly padded with sound-deadening material, said lower member serving as a packing around the lower portion of the typewriting machine, and said upper member having a hood closed at its opposite ends extending laterally beyond the sides of the lower member forming a completely encloing chamber or pocket for the carriage and carriage-handle of the typewriting machine, the front wall of the upper member being cut away to provide a hand-opening disposed for access to said enclosed handles.

10. A combined framework-pack and carriage-hood for a standard typewriting machine having a movable carriage, including a pack having side and rear felt-lined walls snugly fitted against the sides and the back of the macl1ine-framework, the sides of the pack being extended or continued outwardly at the top thereof to form the bottoms of outwardly-extending pockets for accommodating the travel of the carriage at either side, a hinged cover over the carriage, said cover extending forwardly beyond the ends of the usual standard carriage-handles and laterally beyond the sides of the pack, and having end walls closing the ends of said pockets, and a front plate "fast to the machinedramework, the top of the cover being continued downwardly but leaving a nar row hand-opening extending the width of the cover through which opening the hand of the operative may be thrust to reach the carriage-handles, said cover having a rear wall spaced from the rear wall of the pack in a manner to form a chamber for receiving a work-sheet pendent from said carriage.

11. The combination with a typewriting machine, of an enclosing casing thereon forming a sound-mui'l'ling pack, said casing comprising a rockably dis Jlaceable, padded, hood-like member covering the top of said typewriting machine, and a lower box-like member supporting said hood-like member and having an open front and top, and closed padded sides, and a closed padded rear wall enclosing the lower portion of said machine, said rear wall having a recessed portion forming a chamber to receive and encase a tabulating mechanism operatively related to said encased typewriting machine.

12. A sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine, comprising a lower boxlike member having a closed padded bottom, an open top and front, and a closed padded rear and padded sides, and having padded shelf-like portions outwardly extending from said sides, said portions having upwardly-bent flanges at their forward edges, said box-like lower member pivotally carrying a rockable hood-member covering the typewriting machine and having a frontal opening for manual operating access to only the typewriter-carriage, and a front plate mounted on said typewriting machine, spanning the front opening in the lower member of the casing, forming with said flanged shelf portions a front wall portion for the lower member of the casing.

13. In a sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine, comprising a lower box-like member having an open top and front. and a closed padded bottom and opposite padded sides and padded rear, and a padded hood-like member pivotally mounted. on said lower member covering said typewriting machine, a liiaper-receiving chamber formed in said casing by the relative positioning of the rear wall of the lower member and the upwardly-extending rear wall of the pivoted upper member, said walls being spaced apart from each other and said chamber being thereby formed.

JOHN lVALDHElM. 

